Abstract: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are stable end products produced by the reaction of free amino groups in proteins, amino acids, lipids or nucleic acids with carboxyl?groups in?reduced sugars (glucose, fructose and sugar) toward the end of the Maillard reaction. AGEs can interact with the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) to activate certain downstream signaling pathways and consequently induce oxidative stress and inflammation. Plant polyphenols can inhibit AGEs-induced RAGE up-regulation, suppress the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and significantly down-regulate the gene expression of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Therefore, this paper summarizes the mechanism of action by which plant polyphenols regulate AGEs-induced gene expression of inflammatory factors through the RAGE/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. We expect this review to provide a scientific basis for the development of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals based on plant polyphenols.

Key words: plant polyphenols; advanced glycation end products; nuclear factor; inflammatory response